The two-day Gulf News Overnighter Fun Drive kicked off to a cool start yesterday.
More than 2,000 people many of them first-timers in the desert took to the undulating sand and picturesque desert terrain.
Packing every camping kit in their four-wheel drive vehicles, the first of the 600 vehicles was flagged down at Nad Al Sheba at 1pm.
By around 4.30pm, they started making a weary entrance to the makeshift camp as the smell of barbecue and sound of music from the public address system filled the air.
The first day of the overnight Fun Drive was packed with surprises even for the "repeat offenders" who had joined previous fun drives.
Many vehicles got stalled in Section 3 called Jum's Jinx. Volunteer marshals, broken into several teams, swung into action to help participants who got stuck, specially in the troublesome sections, but other participants also offered a helping hand.
Japanese businessman Shuchi Sugawara, who flew into the country on Wednesday with his wife Kumi and brother Toyokazu from Yokahama, said they came especially for the Fun Drive. Sugawara said: "It's a challenge when you lose your way in the desert."
Six hundred cars joined the drive yesterday and 125 more will join today.
German Jorge who was with friend Oliver said: "The first day drive was easy."
Vehicle checks
Technicians and mechanics from Al Futtaim Motors also offered on-site work and checks to vehicles.
Most of the participants went to the nearby Lahbab petrol pump near the police station to fill up for the next day's drive.
Erik Van Saben, a Dutch volunteer marshal, said: "The rain has made the sand compact."
Chris Crompton, who has joined previous fun drives, also said the rain had made driving easier.
But not everyone had a smooth run. Two vehicles were rescued by marshals 15km off the course, said Ivan Kosky, a volunteer marshal.
To many novice fun drivers the steep dunes initially looked impossible to climb, but when they saw other novices manage to do it, the peer pressure brought out the best in them.
The route went through desert terrains, crossing wadis (river beds), sabhkas (dry salt beds) and followed seismic tracks over undulating dunes.
The course, researched by volunteer marshals over several weekends, included spectacular vistas and passes by verdant farms, rural villages, with the chance of glimpsing wild animals from dhubs (large desert lizards) to oryx.
Donald D., a Korean American from San Francisco driving with his Malaysian wife and some Arab friends, said: "It feels a bit like driving in an ocean of yellow and desert goes on and on as much as the eyes could see. So far so good. We are having a great time."
A family from Italy got stuck at section four, but where rescued by mobile mechanics who fixed their radiator fan.
Paula De Vitis, a diplomat from the Italian Embassy said: "We had to stop because the engine temperature was going above the normal, until the marshal came."
By the time they arrived in the camp a five-star dinner prepared by Jebel Ali Hotel was ready.
Fireworks lit up the night sky over the camp that was turned into a virtual small town filled with off-roaders.
A magician treated the children with his tricks. A four-piece-band entertained the crowd at the major stage.
The annual event, organised by Gulf News and supported by Al Futtaim Motors, Toyota, was first held in 1985 with 75 four-wheel drive vehicles participating.
The popularity of the Fun Drive has grown by leaps and bounds and in 1989 Gulf News added another dimension, making it a two-day event designed to give the UAE residents an opportunity to experience the desert.
In today's drive the convoy will peel off from the camp to an interesting journey (divided into seven sections) from Lahbab through Sharjah, then to Ras Al Khaimah.
Gulf News
